Sex Trafficking

As a survivor of human trafficking, I know that exiting an abusive situation does not guarantee freedom. Among other burdens, many of us carry criminal records for actions we were forced to commit while trafficked — records that keep us from financial stability and put us at risk for revictimization, even years removed from trafficking. … Continued

I didn’t always identify as a survivor of human trafficking. I exited before trafficking was a buzzword. I was in and out of domestic violence shelters in Michigan, who were aware that I was involved in prostitution but didn’t identify it as trafficking. For years, I thought of myself as an ex-prostitute — after all, … Continued

On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a remission process to compensate survivors of sex trafficking whose abuse was facilitated through ads on Backpage.com or CityXGuide. Eligible individuals need to file a petition by February 2, 2026.  Filing a remission petition can feel overwhelming. But the Backpage Survivor Remission Network, created by … Continued

Transgender people exist within the perfect storm of vulnerabilities that human traffickers use to exploit them. For example, trans people often lack familial support, are harassed for simply being who they are or supporting others like them, and experience rejection from services and opportunities – like housing and medical care. Traffickers take advantage of these … Continued

Sex trafficking is terrible at any age, but stories about child victims and survivors in particular tend to draw more attention.

The film Sound of Freedom is a Hollywood depiction based on one person’s stories. There are many additional perspectives and stories that complete the picture. 

For survivors of human trafficking, breaking free from the exploiter is often just the beginning of a long journey. Most need longer-term support to truly heal from the traumas they have experienced.

For Philadelphia, one of our initial focus cities under the initiative, we created this action guide with and for local stakeholders to help prevent trafficking of the local vulnerable youth population.

Denim Day is an internationally-recognized day to support survivors of sexual violence and bring awareness to the issue of victim-blaming. Human trafficking survivors know this issue all too well.

Many survivors of human trafficking are also survivors of sexual abuse. During April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are exploring the intersection of sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Zephi Trevino’s upcoming trial in Texas shows that law enforcement and prosecutors are ignoring a victim’s trafficking experience and going ahead with criminal charges.

The voices of Black survivors have historically been left out of the anti trafficking movement. To tell the true story of human trafficking, we can no longer separate it from race.